Men’s Track & Field First at Clemson Invitational After Day One

Jan. 19, 2007

Football standout Jacoby Ford had quite a debut on Friday evening at the Clemson Invitational, leading the men’s track & field team to a first-place finish after day one of competition. Ford posted the fourth-fastest time in school history in the 60m with a 6.65, tying Larry Griffin (2003) and Corey Brown (2005) at that spot in the Clemson record books. Overall, three Tigers posted NCAA provisional qualifying marks on Friday.

Travis Padgett continued to show strength in the 60m, as he posted his second NCAA provisional qualifying mark of the season. He posted a time of 6.71, but fellow sprinter Corey Brown was disqualified due to a false start in the first prelim. Ford and Padgett will compete in Saturday’s 60m final at 11:30 AM. Kamal Marell, who ran a 7.07, qualified for tomorrow’s consolation final.

In the 60m hurdles, Ryan Koontz and Lydell Perry advanced out of the first heat to Saturday’s final. Koontz ran an 8.01, best time of the season for the Tigers so far. He finished third in the first prelim. Also advancing to Saturday’s final was Andrew Porter, who clocked an 8.47 in the third prelim.

The distance medley relay team of Tyrone Gayle, and Itay Magidi won the first section on Friday. After the third leg, the Tigers were in fourth position on the track. Magidi, a senior, took control of the race by overtaking North Carolina in the 1600m leg with several laps remaining. The team cruised to a first-place finish with a time of 10:06.22.

Jay Lumpkins was fourth overall in 15:08.85.

Long jumper George Fields posted an indoor personal best with a leap of 24’7.75″, which was good enough to qualify him provisionally for the NCAA Championships. It also moved him into fifth place on the Tigers’ all-time list for the indoor long jump. Mike Feathers was 11th overall in that event with a jump of 21’4.75″.

Matt Feiling was seventh for the Tigers. Berg posted a personal best mark of 59’0.25″, while Feiling had a toss of 49’3.5″. Berg ranks fifth in school history on the indoor all-time list in the weight throw.

The Tigers will conclude the meet on Saturday, with the first event getting underway at 11:00 AM.